Islam and Antisemitism

From the Religious Perspective and the History of Muslims rescuing Jews under Persecution

by Dr. Zahid Aziz

Part I: The Religious Perspective (From the Teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad; With a Concluding Section on Western Non-Christian and Christian Views on Jews and Israel)

Chapter 1. Muslim Belief in the Prophets of Israel

Muslims Believe in and Honour the Prophets of Israel:

There is a basic point which no one on earth can deny or dispute. It is that the Quran requires Muslims to believe in the prophets of the Jews as a fundamental of Islam and to respect and honour these prophets and take their names with sanctity and reverence. This is why Muslims add the prayer

‘alai-is-salām,

meaning

‘peace be upon him’,

after the name of every one of the revered figures of the Jews: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Job, Jonah, who are mentioned in the Quran. Moreover, the Quran is explicit that Muslims must not make any distinction between the prophets of God, and to do so is a great sin. When you respect someone’s elders like your own, you cannot be biased against them and hate them as a group.

In the Quran, Muslims are directed as follows:

قُوۡلُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ وَ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡنَا وَ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلٰۤی اِبۡرٰہٖمَ وَ اِسۡمٰعِیۡلَ وَ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ وَ الۡاَسۡبَاطِ وَ مَاۤ اُوۡتِیَ مُوۡسٰی وَ عِیۡسٰی وَ مَاۤ اُوۡتِیَ النَّبِیُّوۡنَ مِنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ ۚ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَیۡنَ اَحَدٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ ۫ۖ وَ نَحۡنُ لَہٗ مُسۡلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳۶﴾

“Say: We believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us, and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and in what was given to the prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them and to Him we submit.” (The Holy Quran, 2:136 and 3:84)

Muslims thus believe in the prophets of the Israelites in exactly the same way as they believe in the Holy Prophet Muhammad. From among their prophets, the two verses cited above mention by name Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, and the addition of the words

“and the tribes”

refer to all the other Israelite prophets.¹

In another place the Quran refers to the guidance given to these prophets as follows:

“And this was Our argument which We gave to Abraham against his people. We exalt in degrees whom We please. … And We gave him Isaac and Jacob. Each did We guide; and Noah did We guide before, and of his descendants, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. And thus do We reward those who do good to others, and Zacharias and John and Jesus and Elias; each one was of the righteous, and Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot; and each one We made to excel the people; and some of their fathers and their descendants and their brethren. And We chose them and guided them to the right way. … These are they to whom We gave the Book and authority and prophecy. … These are they whom Allah guided, so follow their guidance.” (The Holy Quran, 6:83–87, 89–90)

Out of the eighteen prophets named here, all except Ishmael are revered figures of the Jewish religion.

The Quran recounts Inspiring Events from Lives of the Prophets of Israel:

Events from the lives of many of these prophets are related so frequently and at such great length in the Quran that those accounts would fill a book themselves. Abraham’s work and preaching is mentioned several times, an entire chapter is devoted to the life of Joseph. Moses is mentioned most frequently of all these prophets and key events from his life are related. Certain stories of Noah, David, Solomon, Job, Lot, and Jonah are also found in the Quran. The reason that the Quran contains these accounts is two-fold: to prophesy that events from the lives of previous prophets, showing their difficulties, their perseverance and their ultimate triumph, would be repeated in the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and to present to Muslims the noble examples of the previous prophets to emulate.

Chapters of the Quran bear the names of Jonah, Joseph, Abraham and Noah (Chapters 10, 12, 14 and 71 respectively). Chapter 3 is entitled Āl ‘Imrān, ‘The Family of Amran’, Amran being the father of Moses and Aaron who is mentioned in the Bible as Amram.² Chapters 27, al-Naml, is named after an incident in the life of Solomon,³ and chapter 28, al-Qasas, meaning ‘The Narrative’, is so-called because it narrates at some length the story of Moses.

High Qualities of the Prophets of Israel in the Quran:

We now turn to some of the noble qualities of the prophets of Israel as mentioned in the Quran.

Noah:

اِنَّہٗ کَانَ عَبۡدًا شَکُوۡرًا ﴿۳﴾

“Surely he was a grateful servant (of God).” (The Holy Quran, 17:3)

تَرَکۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ فِی الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿۫ۖ۷۸﴾ سَلٰمٌ عَلٰی نُوۡحٍ فِی الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۹﴾ اِنَّا کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾ اِنَّہٗ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾

“We granted him among the later generations (the salutation): peace be on Noah among the nations! Thus do We reward the doers of good. Surely he was one of Our believing servants.” (The Holy Quran, 37:78–81)

Abraham:

وَ اِذِ ابۡتَلٰۤی اِبۡرٰہٖمَ رَبُّہٗ بِکَلِمٰتٍ فَاَتَمَّہُنَّ ؕ قَالَ اِنِّیۡ جَاعِلُکَ لِلنَّاسِ اِمَامًا ؕ

“And when his Lord tried Abraham with certain commands he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you a leader of mankind.” (The Holy Quran, 2:124)

اِنَّ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ کَانَ اُمَّۃً قَانِتًا لِّلّٰہِ حَنِیۡفًا ؕ وَ لَمۡ یَکُ مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۰﴾ۙ شَاکِرًا لِّاَنۡعُمِہٖ ؕ اِجۡتَبٰہُ وَ ہَدٰىہُ اِلٰی صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٍ ﴿۱۲۱﴾ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ فِی الدُّنۡیَا حَسَنَۃً ؕ وَ اِنَّہٗ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ لَمِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۲﴾ؕ ثُمَّ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ اَنِ اتَّبِعۡ مِلَّۃَ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ حَنِیۡفًا ؕ

“Surely Abraham was a model (of virtue), obedient to Allah, upright, and he was not from among the idolaters, grateful for His favours. He chose him and guided him on the right path. And We gave him good in this world; and in the Hereafter he is surely among the righteous. Then We revealed to you (O Muhammad): Follow the faith of Abraham, the upright one;” (The Holy Quran, 16:120–123)

وَ تَرَکۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ فِی الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۸﴾ۖ سَلٰمٌ عَلٰۤی اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ ﴿۱۰۹﴾ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۰﴾ اِنَّہٗ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۱﴾ وَ بَشَّرۡنٰہُ بِاِسۡحٰقَ نَبِیًّا مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۲﴾ وَ بٰرَکۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ وَ عَلٰۤی اِسۡحٰقَ ؕ

“And We granted him among the later generations (the salutation): Peace be on Abraham! Thus do We reward the doers of good. Surely he was one of Our believing servants. And We gave him the good news of Isaac, a prophet, a righteous one. And We blessed him and Isaac.” (The Holy Quran, 37:108–113)

Lot:

“And to Lot We gave wisdom and knowledge, … and We admitted him to Our mercy; surely he was from among the righteous.” (The Holy Quran, 21:74, 75)

Isaac and Jacob:

وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗۤ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ ؕ وَ کُلًّا جَعَلۡنَا نَبِیًّا ﴿۴۹﴾ وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہُمۡ مِّنۡ رَّحۡمَتِنَا وَ جَعَلۡنَا لَہُمۡ لِسَانَ صِدۡقٍ عَلِیًّا ﴿٪۵۰﴾

“We gave him (i.e., Abraham) Isaac and Jacob. And each We made a prophet. And We gave them of Our mercy, and We granted them a truthful mention of eminence.” (The Holy Quran, 19:49–50)

وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗۤ اِسۡحٰقَ ؕ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ نَافِلَۃً ؕ وَ کُلًّا جَعَلۡنَا صٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾ وَ جَعَلۡنٰہُمۡ اَئِمَّۃً یَّہۡدُوۡنَ بِاَمۡرِنَا وَ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِمۡ فِعۡلَ الۡخَیۡرٰتِ

“And We gave him Isaac; and Jacob, a son’s son. And We made (them) all good. And We made them leaders who guided (people) by Our command…” (The Holy Quran, 21:72–73)

وَ اذۡکُرۡ عِبٰدَنَاۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ اُولِی الۡاَیۡدِیۡ وَ الۡاَبۡصَارِ ﴿۴۵﴾ اِنَّاۤ اَخۡلَصۡنٰہُمۡ بِخَالِصَۃٍ ذِکۡرَی الدَّارِ ﴿ۚ۴۶﴾ وَ اِنَّہُمۡ عِنۡدَنَا لَمِنَ الۡمُصۡطَفَیۡنَ الۡاَخۡیَارِ ﴿ؕ۴۷﴾

“And remember Our servants Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, possessors of power and insight. We indeed purified them by a pure quality, the keeping in mind of the (final) abode. And surely they were with Us, among the elect, the best.” (The Holy Quran, 38:45–47)

Joseph:

Jacob said to Joseph:

وَ کَذٰلِکَ یَجۡتَبِیۡکَ رَبُّکَ وَ یُعَلِّمُکَ مِنۡ تَاۡوِیۡلِ الۡاَحَادِیۡثِ وَ یُتِمُّ نِعۡمَتَہٗ عَلَیۡکَ وَ عَلٰۤی اٰلِ یَعۡقُوۡبَ کَمَاۤ اَتَمَّہَا عَلٰۤی اَبَوَیۡکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ اِسۡحٰقَ ؕ

“And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of sayings, and make His favour complete to you and to the Children of Jacob, as He made it complete before to your fathers, Abraham and Isaac.” (The Holy Quran, 12:6)

“And when he attained his maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good. … Surely he was one of Our chosen servants.” (The Holy Quran, 12:22, 24)

وَ کَذٰلِکَ مَکَّنَّا لِیُوۡسُفَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ یَتَبَوَّاُ مِنۡہَا حَیۡثُ یَشَآءُ ؕ نُصِیۡبُ بِرَحۡمَتِنَا مَنۡ نَّشَآءُ وَ لَا نُضِیۡعُ اَجۡرَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾

“And thus did We give to Joseph power in the land — he had mastery in it wherever he liked. We bestow Our mercy on whom We please, and We do not waste the reward of the doers of good.” (The Holy Quran, 12:56)

Moses (and Aaron):

ثُمَّ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسَی الۡکِتٰبَ تَمَامًا عَلَی الَّذِیۡۤ اَحۡسَنَ وَ تَفۡصِیۡلًا لِّکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّ ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃً لَّعَلَّہُمۡ بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّہِمۡ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵۴﴾٪

“Again, We gave the Book to Moses to complete (Our blessings) on him who would do good, and making plain all things and a guidance and a mercy, so that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord.” (The Holy Quran, 6:154)

قَالَ یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِنِّی اصۡطَفَیۡتُکَ عَلَی النَّاسِ بِرِسٰلٰتِیۡ وَ بِکَلَامِیۡ ۫ۖ

“He (Allah) said: O Moses, surely I have chosen you above the people by My messages and My words.” (The Holy Quran, 7:144)

وَ اذۡکُرۡ فِی الۡکِتٰبِ مُوۡسٰۤی ۫ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ مُخۡلَصًا وَّ کَانَ رَسُوۡلًا نَّبِیًّا ﴿۵۱﴾ وَ نَادَیۡنٰہُ مِنۡ جَانِبِ الطُّوۡرِ الۡاَیۡمَنِ وَ قَرَّبۡنٰہُ نَجِیًّا ﴿۵۲﴾ وَ وَہَبۡنَا لَہٗ مِنۡ رَّحۡمَتِنَاۤ اَخَاہُ ہٰرُوۡنَ نَبِیًّا ﴿۵۳﴾

“And mention Moses in the Book. Surely he was one purified, and was a messenger, a prophet. And We called to him from the blessed side of the mountain, and We made him draw near to Us in communion. And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron, a prophet.” (The Holy Quran, 19:51–53)

Allah said to Moses:

وَ اصۡطَنَعۡتُکَ لِنَفۡسِیۡ ﴿ۚ۴۱﴾

“And I have chosen you for Myself.” (The Holy Quran, 20:41)

وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسٰی وَ ہٰرُوۡنَ الۡفُرۡقَانَ وَ ضِیَآءً وَّ ذِکۡرًا لِّلۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۸﴾

“And certainly We gave Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for those who guard against evil,” (The Holy Quran, 21:48)

وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ اَشُدَّہٗ وَ اسۡتَوٰۤی اٰتَیۡنٰہُ حُکۡمًا وَّ عِلۡمًا ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾

“And when he attained his maturity and became full-grown, We granted him wisdom and knowledge. And thus do We reward those who do good to others.” (The Holy Quran, 28:14)

وَ اَخِیۡ ہٰرُوۡنُ ہُوَ اَفۡصَحُ مِنِّیۡ لِسَانًا فَاَرۡسِلۡہُ مَعِیَ رِدۡاً یُّصَدِّقُنِیۡۤ ۫ اِنِّیۡۤ اَخَافُ اَنۡ یُّکَذِّبُوۡنِ ﴿۳۴﴾ قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَکَ بِاَخِیۡکَ وَ نَجۡعَلُ لَکُمَا سُلۡطٰنًا فَلَا یَصِلُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکُمَا ۚۛ بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ ۚۛ اَنۡتُمَا وَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَکُمَا الۡغٰلِبُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾

“(Moses said to Allah:) And my brother, Aaron, he is more eloquent in speech than I, so send him with me as a helper to confirm me. Surely I fear that they would reject me. He (Allah) said: We will strengthen your arm with your brother, and We will give you both an authority, so that they shall not reach you. With Our signs, you two and those who follow you, will triumph.” (The Holy Quran, 28:34–35)

وَ لَقَدۡ مَنَنَّا عَلٰی مُوۡسٰی وَ ہٰرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۴﴾ۚ وَ نَجَّیۡنٰہُمَا وَ قَوۡمَہُمَا مِنَ الۡکَرۡبِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿۱۱۵﴾ۚ وَ نَصَرۡنٰہُمۡ فَکَانُوۡا ہُمُ الۡغٰلِبِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۶﴾ۚ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمَا الۡکِتٰبَ الۡمُسۡتَبِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۷﴾ۚ وَ ہَدَیۡنٰہُمَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِیۡمَ ﴿۱۱۸﴾ۚ وَ تَرَکۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمَا فِی الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۹﴾ۙ سَلٰمٌ عَلٰی مُوۡسٰی وَ ہٰرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲۰﴾ اِنَّا کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۱﴾ اِنَّہُمَا مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۲۲﴾

“And certainly We conferred a favour on Moses and Aaron. And We delivered them and their people from the mighty distress. And We helped them, so they were triumphant. And We gave them both the clear Book. And We guided them on the right way. And We granted them among the later generations (the salutation): Peace be on Moses and Aaron! Thus do We reward the doers of good. Surely they were both from among Our believing servants.” (The Holy Quran, 37:114–122)

وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا مُوۡسَی الۡہُدٰی وَ اَوۡرَثۡنَا بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ الۡکِتٰبَ ﴿ۙ۵۳﴾ ہُدًی وَّ ذِکۡرٰی لِاُولِی الۡاَلۡبَابِ ﴿۵۴﴾

“And We indeed gave Moses the guidance, and We made the Children of Israel inherit the Book — a guidance and a reminder for those who have understanding.” (The Holy Quran, 40:53–54)

Saul:

وَ قَالَ لَہُمۡ نَبِیُّہُمۡ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ قَدۡ بَعَثَ لَکُمۡ طَالُوۡتَ مَلِکًا ؕ قَالُوۡۤا اَنّٰی یَکُوۡنُ لَہُ الۡمُلۡکُ عَلَیۡنَا وَ نَحۡنُ اَحَقُّ بِالۡمُلۡکِ مِنۡہُ وَ لَمۡ یُؤۡتَ سَعَۃً مِّنَ الۡمَالِ ؕ قَالَ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ اصۡطَفٰىہُ عَلَیۡکُمۡ وَ زَادَہٗ بَسۡطَۃً فِی الۡعِلۡمِ وَ الۡجِسۡمِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یُؤۡتِیۡ مُلۡکَہٗ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ

“And their prophet (Samuel) said to them: Allah has raised Saul to be a king over you. … Surely Allah has chosen him above you, and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique. And Allah grants His kingdom to whom He pleases.” (The Holy Quran, 2:247)

David and Solomon:

وَ قَتَلَ دَاوٗدُ جَالُوۡتَ وَ اٰتٰىہُ اللّٰہُ الۡمُلۡکَ وَ الۡحِکۡمَۃَ وَ عَلَّمَہٗ مِمَّا یَشَآءُ ؕ

“And David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him kingdom and wisdom, and taught him of what He pleased.” (The Holy Quran, 2:251)

وَ اٰتَیۡنَا دَاوٗدَ زَبُوۡرًا ﴿۱۶۳﴾ۚ

“… and We gave to David a scripture.” (The Holy Quran, 4:163)

“And David and Solomon … to each (of them) We gave wisdom and knowledge. And We made the mountains, declaring (Our) glory, and the birds, subservient to David. And We were the Doers.” (The Holy Quran, 21:78, 79)

وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا دَاوٗدَ وَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ عِلۡمًا ۚ وَ قَالَا الۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ فَضَّلَنَا عَلٰی کَثِیۡرٍ مِّنۡ عِبَادِہِ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾

“And certainly We gave knowledge to David and Solomon. And they said: Praise be to Allah, Who has made us excel many of His believing servants!” (The Holy Quran, 27:15)

قَالَ رَبِّ اَوۡزِعۡنِیۡۤ اَنۡ اَشۡکُرَ نِعۡمَتَکَ الَّتِیۡۤ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیَّ وَ عَلٰی وَالِدَیَّ وَ اَنۡ اَعۡمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرۡضٰىہُ وَ اَدۡخِلۡنِیۡ بِرَحۡمَتِکَ فِیۡ عِبَادِکَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾

“… he (Solomon) said: My Lord, grant me that I may be grateful for Your favour which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good such as You are pleased with, and admit me, by Your mercy, among Your righteous servants.” (The Holy Quran, 27:19)

“And certainly We gave David abundance from Us: O mountains, repeat praises with him, and the birds, and We made iron pliant to him, … Give thanks, O people of David! And very few of My servants are grateful.” (The Holy Quran, 34:10, 13)

“… and remember Our servant David, the possessor of power. He ever turned (to Allah). … And We strengthened his kingdom and We gave him wisdom and a clear judgment. … and surely he had a nearness to Us and an excellent destination.” (The Holy Quran, 38:17, 20, 25)

وَ وَہَبۡنَا لِدَاوٗدَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ ؕ نِعۡمَ الۡعَبۡدُ ؕ اِنَّہٗۤ اَوَّابٌ ﴿ؕ۳۰﴾

“And We gave to David Solomon. Most excellent the servant! Surely he ever turned (to Allah).” (The Holy Quran, 38:30)

Job:

وَ اَیُّوۡبَ اِذۡ نَادٰی رَبَّہٗۤ اَنِّیۡ مَسَّنِیَ الضُّرُّ وَ اَنۡتَ اَرۡحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۸۳﴾ فَاسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَہٗ فَکَشَفۡنَا مَا بِہٖ مِنۡ ضُرٍّ وَّ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ اَہۡلَہٗ وَ مِثۡلَہُمۡ مَّعَہُمۡ رَحۡمَۃً مِّنۡ عِنۡدِنَا وَ ذِکۡرٰی لِلۡعٰبِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸۴﴾

“And Job, when he cried to his Lord: Distress has afflicted me, and You are the most Merciful of those who show mercy! So We responded to him and removed the distress he had, and We gave him (back) his people and more like them with them, a mercy from Us and a reminder to the worshippers.” (The Holy Quran, 21:83–84)

“And remember Our servant Job. When he cried to his Lord: The devil has afflicted me with toil and torment. … And We gave him (back) his people and more like them with them, a mercy from Us, and a reminder for those who have understanding. … Surely We found him patient; most excellent the servant! Surely he (ever) turned (to Us).” (The Holy Quran, 38:41, 43, 44)

Jonah:

فَنَادٰی فِی الظُّلُمٰتِ اَنۡ لَّاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡتَ سُبۡحٰنَکَ ٭ۖ اِنِّیۡ کُنۡتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۸۷﴾ فَاسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَہٗ ۙ وَ نَجَّیۡنٰہُ مِنَ الۡغَمِّ ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نُــۨۡجِی الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۸۸﴾

“… so he called out among afflictions: There is no God but You, glory be to You! Surely I am a sufferer of loss. So We responded to him and delivered him from grief. And thus do We deliver the believers.” (The Holy Quran, 21:87–88)

وَ اِنَّ یُوۡنُسَ لَمِنَ الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۳۹﴾ؕ

“And Jonah was surely one of the messengers.” (The Holy Quran, 37:139)

فَاجۡتَبٰہُ رَبُّہٗ فَجَعَلَہٗ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۵۰﴾

“Then his Lord chose him, and He made him one of the righteous.” (The Holy Quran, 68:50)

The high position assigned by the Quran to these sacred figures of the Jewish religion, placing them in the same category as the Holy Prophet Muhammad, should now be amply evident from the quotations given above.

Footnotes:

1. I have excluded Ishmael and Jesus, who are also mentioned here, since the Jews do not believe them to have been prophets of God. ↩︎
2. See Exodus 6:20, Numbers 26:59 and 1 Chronicles 23:13. ↩︎
3. The incident, related in 27:18–19, is interpreted either as referring to a tribe by the name of Namlah or to a party of ants, the word naml meaning ‘ants’. ↩︎

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